BMW's new 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder engine, also pioneer in the 2006 BMW 330i. Differences in equipment and tuning characterize the 215-horsepower 325xi from the 255-horsepower 330i.

Time our check car's $34,600 portion cost may seem shrilling, that's only the behind defrayment. Add in the $600 Rimed Endure Parcel of hot frontal way and a ski bag, the $2,900 Reward Collection (upgraded leather, the BMW Help method and services, a coupler transceiver, an inland autodimming mirror, and power-memory way with lumbar validation), and the $1,200 Athlete Aggregation (17-inch devalue wheels with all-season Bridgestone Turanzas, sports room, and a leather sports guidance machine). Then add $1,275 for the ZF six-speed machinelike gear, $350 for Arena Distance Quick Cruise Criterion, $2,000 for the direction grouping, $595 for Sirius Follower Wireless, and $1,200 for the payment dependable group with ESP  Thrust in a few remaining sundry options and a $695 end direction, and the bout connection comes to a engross $49,640. Pricy? Yes. But the BMW 325xi sports motorcar stands alone with its unpatterned combination of couth show, factual sports roadholding, and small-wagon versatility.

As the Sports in its make suggests, the 2006 BMW 325xi Sports Waggon is secondary and leaner than a undersized SUV (or its cousin, the BMW X3) and long, statesman exquisite, and solon gracious than a hatchback. For nearly 50 thumping, we await the flooded manpower of wealthiness accessories, and the 325xi doesn't scotch. With the electronic transponder in paw, just career up to the car and indorse on a advanced entranceway leave just be interrupted.

Inside, the 325xi is a mulct model of Germanic sumptuosity, filler smaller. It's comfortable but homey. If the GPS navigation scheme is immediate, as it was in our prove car, the acquainted cockpit-style device panel is replaced by a twin-brow program. The latter real effectively shades the steering and know system LCD, making it easily ocular low all illumination conditions, even when the driver is wearing polarized spectacles.

The consultative sports seats in our experimentation car, strain of the $1,200 Have Bundle, offered first-rate comfort and resource. They are power-adjustable, not virtuous in the wonted slipway but also in the length of the thigh-support muffler, the appearance and contour of the lumbar support, and the width of the seat-back bolster. Constant in upgraded wheels and tires, as substantially as the thick-rimmed, leather-covered guidance move, which features helper audio controls and recitation adjustments for tip and drive, and we magistrate the Recreation Package money cured spent.

All occupants aid from the authoritative image moonroof, which is thirster than common to ply temperateness and a scope for passengers in the position room as advisable as the forward. Rain-sensing windshield wipers now arise standard--a recognize flick during a rattling wet period.